Level hanger device for pictures or the like

ABSTRACT

A level hanger device includes a plate for attaching to a supporting surface and having a curved channel to define a bottommost area and to slidably receive a ball, and a transparent cover attached onto the plate, to enclose the curved channel of the plate and to slidably retain the ball within the curved channel of the plate, and to prevent the ball from being disengaged from the curved channel of the plate, and for allowing the ball to be seen through the transparent cover. The plate may be determined as located in a horizontal position when the ball is stably positioned in the bottommost area of the curved channel of the plate, to readily support the object on the plate at the horizontal position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a level hanger device, and moreparticularly to a level hanger device having a leveling structure forsuitably supporting objects, such as picture frames, mirrors, or thelike.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typically, various objects, such as picture frames, mirrors, or the likeare required to attach or mount a support or hanger or the like, forallowing the objects to be attached onto the walls, and/or for allowingthe objects to be adjusted relative to the walls to different tilting orangular position.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,448,024 to Brizgis discloses one of thesupport devices for supporting picture frames or the like, and comprisesa horizontal arm and one or more struts adjustably coupled to thehorizontal arm, to adjustably securing the picture frame to the walls.However, Brizgis has no leveling device to suitably attach the pictureframe to the walls at horizontal or leveling positions.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,401,241 to Grobholz discloses another typical pictureframe having a U-shaped wire easel frame for supporting the pictureframe on table top or the like. However, Grobholz also has no levelingdevice to suitably attach the picture frame to the supporting surfacesat horizontal or leveling positions.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,427 to Krogh discloses a further typical pictureframe hanger having a flat and elongated support strip solidly fixed tothe picture frame, and the elongated support strip includes a series oflongitudinally spaced notches or serrations for attaching or hangingonto shoulders of screws, and thus for allowing the picture frame to beeasily attached onto walls or the like. However, Krogh also has noleveling device to suitably attach the picture frame to the supportingsurfaces at horizontal or leveling positions.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional hanger devices forpicture frames, mirrors, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a levelhanger device including a leveling structure for suitably supportingobjects, such as picture frames, mirrors, or the like, and for easilyand readily attaching or supporting the picture frames, the mirrors, orthe like to the supporting surfaces or walls at horizontal or levelingpositions.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided alevel hanger device for supporting an object, the level hanger devicecomprising a plate for attaching to a supporting surface, the plateincluding a curved channel formed therein and curved downwardly todefine a bottommost area, a ball slidably received in the curved channelof the plate, and a transparent cover attached onto the plate, to coverand to enclose the curved channel of the plate, and to slidably retainthe ball within the curved channel of the plate, and to prevent the ballfrom being disengaged from the curved channel of the plate, and forallowing the ball to be seen through the transparent cover. The platemay be determined as located in a horizontal position when the ball isstably positioned in the bottommost area of the curved channel of theplate, to readily support the object on the plate at the horizontalposition.

The plate includes at least one orifice formed therein, for receiving afastener which secures the plate to the supporting surface. The plateincludes a number of ribs extended into the orifice thereof and spacedaway from each other, to form a number of slots between the ribs, thefastener is engaged with the ribs, to solidly secure the plate to thesupporting surface.

The plate includes an extension extended therefrom, for hanging andsupporting the object on the plate. The extension of the plate ispreferably extended inclinedly and forwardly and upwardly from theplate. The plate includes at least one curved protrusion extendedtherefrom, for engaging with and for positioning the object on theplate.

The plate includes a cap secured onto rear portion thereof, to cover thecurved channel of the plate, and to slidably retain the ball within thecurved channel of the plate, and to prevent the ball from beingdisengaged from the rear portion of the curved channel of the plate.

The plate includes at least one aperture formed therein, the capincludes a peg extended therefrom and engaged into the aperture of theplate, to anchor the cap to the plate. The plate may further include atleast one adhesive member attached to rear portion thereof, for adheringthe plate to the supporting surface.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedhereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a level hanger device in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the level hanger device;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating the operation ofthe level hanger device for attaching or for supporting an object, suchas a picture frame, a mirror, or the like; and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustratingthe attachment of the other object or picture frame or mirror to thelevel hanger device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a levelhanger device 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises ahanger body or plate 11 including one or more, such as two orifices 12formed therein, particularly formed in the sides thereof, for receivingor engaging with fasteners 80 which may secure the plate 11 onto thewalls 90 (FIGS. 3, 4) or the like.

It is preferable that the plate 11 includes a number of ribs 13 extendedinto each of the orifices 12 thereof and spaced away from each other, toform a number of slots 14 between the ribs 13. The fasteners 80 may bethreaded or engaged with the ribs 13, to solidly secure or attach theplate 11 onto the walls 90 or other supporting surfaces or the like.

The plate 11 includes a curved channel 15 formed therein, such as formedin the middle portion thereof, and curved downwardly to form or define abottommost point or area 16, and to slidably receive a ball 20 therein.The plate 11 includes one or more, such as two apertures 17 formedtherein, particularly formed and located beside the curved channel 15thereof.

A transparent or semi-transparent cover 21 may be attached or securedonto the front portion of the plate 11, to cover or enclose the curvedchannel 15 of the plate 11, and to slidably retain the ball 20 withinthe curved channel 15 of the plate 11, and thus to prevent the ball 20from being disengaged from the curved channel 15 of the plate 11, andalso for allowing the ball 20 to be seen through the transparent orsemi-transparent cover 21.

A board or cap 22 may further be provided and secured onto the rearportion of the plate 11, to cover or shield the curved channel 15 of theplate 11, and to slidably retain the ball 20 within the curved channel15 of the plate 11, and thus to prevent the ball 20 from beingdisengaged from the rear portion of the curved channel 15 of the plate11. The cap 22 may include one or more, such as two pegs 23 extendedtherefrom and engaged into the apertures 17 of the plate 11, to anchoror secure the cap 22 to the plate 11.

It is to be noted that the cap 22 may also be formed integral with theplate 11 when the plate 11 is formed or manufactured with such asmolding or mold-injection process, and the curved channel 15 may also beformed within the plate 11 when the plate 11 is formed or manufactured.The plate 11 may further include one or more, such as two adhesivemembers 24 attached to the rear portion thereof, for adhering the plate11 to the walls 90.

The plate 11 includes an extension 18 and one or more, such as twoforwardly projected or curved protrusions 19 extended therefrom, such asextended inclinedly or forwardly and upwardly therefrom, for hangingand/or for supporting various objects 91, such as picture frames 91,mirrors, or the like.

In operation, when the plate 11 is secured onto the walls 90 with suchas the fasteners 80, the ball 20 may be seen through the transparent orsemi-transparent cover 21, and may be used to determine whether theplate 11 has been suitably attached or mounted onto the supportingsurfaces or walls 90 at horizontal or leveling positions or not.

For example, when the ball 20 is seen to be stably located or positionedin the bottommost point or area 16 of the curved channel 15 of the plate11, then the plate 11 may be determined to have been suitably attachedor mounted onto the supporting surfaces or walls 90 at the horizontal orleveling positions.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the objects or the picture frames 91 ormirrors or the like may include a hook 93 attached to the rear portionthereof for easily and readily hooking to the extension 18 of the plate11, in which the plate 11 has been determined to be suitably attached ormounted onto the supporting surfaces or walls 90 at the horizontal orleveling positions with the ball 20.

In addition, the forwardly projected or curved protrusions 19 may alsobe used to engage with the objects 91, to further suitably or stablysupport the objects or the picture frames 91 on the plate 11 at thehorizontal or leveling positions.

Accordingly, the level hanger device in accordance with the presentinvention includes a leveling structure for suitably supporting objects,such as picture frames, mirrors, or the like, and for easily and readilyattaching or supporting the picture frames, the mirrors, or the like tothe supporting surfaces or walls at horizontal or leveling positions.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A level hanger device for supporting an object, said level hangerdevice comprising: a plate for attaching to a supporting surface, saidplate including a curved channel formed therein and curved downwardly todefine a bottommost area, a ball slidably received in said curvedchannel of said plate, and a transparent cover attached onto said plate,to cover and to enclose said curved channel of said plate, and toslidably retain said ball within said curved channel of said plate, andto prevent said ball from being disengaged from said curved channel ofsaid plate, and for allowing said ball to be seen through saidtransparent cover, said plate being determined as located in ahorizontal position when said ball is stably positioned in saidbottommost area of said curved channel of said plate, to readily supportthe object on said plate at the horizontal position.
 2. The level hangerdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate includes at least oneorifice formed therein, for receiving a fastener which secures saidplate to said supporting surface.
 3. The level hanger device as claimedin claim 2, wherein said plate includes a plurality of ribs extendedinto said at least one orifice thereof and spaced away from each other,to form a plurality of slots between said ribs, said fastener is engagedwith said ribs, to solidly secure said plate to said supporting surface.4. The level hanger device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plateincludes an extension extended therefrom, for hanging and supporting theobject on said plate.
 5. The level hanger device as claimed in claim 4,wherein said extension of said plate is extended inclinedly andforwardly and upwardly from said plate.
 6. The level hanger device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said plate includes at least one curvedprotrusion extended therefrom, for engaging with and for positioning theobject on said plate.
 7. The level hanger device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said plate includes a cap secured onto rear portion thereof, tocover said curved channel of said plate, and to slidably retain saidball within said curved channel of said plate, and to prevent said ballfrom being disengaged from said rear portion of said curved channel ofsaid plate.
 8. The level hanger device as claimed in claim 7, whereinsaid plate includes at least one aperture formed therein, said capincludes a peg extended therefrom and engaged into said at least oneaperture of said plate, to anchor said cap to said plate.
 9. The levelhanger device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate includes atleast one adhesive member attached to rear portion thereof, for adheringsaid plate to the supporting surface.